Thursday, May 3, 2018

Readers and reviewers are happily writing rave reviews for CHAOS AT COCONUTS, Book 2, in my
Coconuts series which all began with double award-winning THURSDAYS AT
COCONUTS. Trust me, authors hold their collective breaths when their book babies enter the world. We never know how they'll be received, so I'm breathing a little easier now.

As I endeavor to pen Books 3, 4, (and probably 5), I continually strive to keep the characters fresh, engaging, intriguing, and
compelling.

As background, my main POV characters are three
thirty-something best friends since high school. Suzy’s a newly married wedding planner who creates fun, themed weddings; Hope
is a high school guidance counselor who deals with both at-risk and honor students; and Alex is a bank marketer who dates a sexy bad-boy cop. The threesome
enjoy Happy Hour at their oasis, Coconuts, an island-themed bar, in land-locked
Crystal City.

Secondary characters such as neurotic brides,
an intern from hell, crazy exes, and hippies create gleeful havoc along the way.

In CHAOS AT COCONUTS, I introduced a newcomer, Cheri Van
Buren, a wealthy New York socialite and celebrity chef. You’ll have to
read my novel to see why she makes a splashy visit to Coconuts. At first, Suzy,
Alex, and Hope aren’t too keen about having a beautiful, filthy rich woman as
competition, and they may or may not befriend the stranger.

I also introduced Izzy, a lazy, disrespectful teen
stepdaughter for Suzy, who her new husband forgot to mention during his
whirlwind proposal!

Alex is dealt a job-stealing marketing intern and stalker ex-wife who
both unleash mayhem.

Hope has a couple of major issues to deal with at Hilltop
High. One is a spoiler and the other is a devastating tornado. This was my
first attempt at a tornado scene and it wasn’t easy. The fact that I’m from Missouri
and saw the destruction after an EF5 tornado made this a bit easier to
construct but still gut wrenching, even if on paper.

Here are some tips I used to keep my series fresh:

·I added several new characters.

·Characters are from other states with unique
professions and vastly different backgrounds.

·A monster tornado barrels toward the high school.

·There are two very different weddings for two
totally opposite couples.

·Bits of backstory was added (mainly using
dialogue).

·Plenty of plot twists with old and
new characters is guaranteed!

·The unique “flavor” of the island bar, Coconuts, remains the same.

·There's plenty of humor, suspense, and
romance like the first novel in the series.

·Both novels may be read as a
standalone.

·The same font was used on the cover for branding purposes.

Want to read the blurb? Here it is:

To most, Coconuts is simply a bar. But for three best friends,
it’s their oasis. That is, until everything comes crashing down.

Hope’s life is routine, if not dull. The most exciting part of
her day is counseling students until a monster tornado heads toward Hilltop
High. Now she’s in shock—and not just from the devastating twister.

Alex oversees a marketing intern from hell who appears intent on
stealing her job. Her relationship with her sexy cop boyfriend isn’t so sexy,
especially after his ex-wife stalks her.

Suzy’s new marriage is challenged by her surly teen
stepdaughter, a unique Halloween wedding, and her son’s ever-changing nuptials.
If that isn’t enough, the family discovers an astonishing revelation requiring
a giant leap of faith.

Will the women overcome the chaos or will it tear them apart?

Amazon buy link: https://www.tinyurl.com/chaosatcoconuts

Do
you prefer books in a series? I also write standalone novels and novellas. I’d love to hear from you!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?

THE MISSING KEY

SANTA'S SECRET

About Me

After being a bank VP and a hospital PR Director, Beth Carter shed her suits and heels and waved bye-bye to corporate America.
She now happily writes from home in her pj's and has three children's picture books published: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE? THE MISSING KEY and SANTA'S SECRET.
Carter's debut women's fiction, THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS, will be out August 2014 by Soul Mate Publishing.
She also has short stories and poems published in several anthologies and and six-word memoirs in three six-word memoir collections alongside famous writers and celebrities.
A fan of marketing after having worked in that field for 20 years, most days you'll find the author sipping a skinny vanilla latte at Barnes & Noble if she's not at T.J. Maxx or at home writing.